A’s hire Matt Williams as third-base coach

San Francisco Giants hobbled star Matt Williams gave a thumbs up to a fan early in the game the Giants later lost to the Houston Astros 13-8, Friday, July 14, 1995, in San Francisco. The broken bone in Williams' right foot will still take about two weeks more to heal. (AP Photo/Susan Ragan)
Ran on: 08-15-2004
Tony Gwinn had a chance to be the first .400 hitter in 53 years.
Ran on: 08-15-2004
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San Francisco Giants hobbled star Matt Williams gave a thumbs up to a fan early in the game the Giants later lost to the Houston Astros 13-8, Friday, July 14, 1995, in San Francisco. The broken bone in ... more

Photo: SUSAN RAGAN, Associated Press

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San Francisco Giants' third baseman Matt Williams makes a diving stop in the hole to snare a ball hit by San Diego Padres' Andujar Cedeno in the fourth inning of their game Wednesday May 1, 1996 in San Diego. Williams got up and threw out Cedeno at first. (AP Photo/Lenny Ignelzi) less

San Francisco Giants' third baseman Matt Williams makes a diving stop in the hole to snare a ball hit by San Diego Padres' Andujar Cedeno in the fourth inning of their game Wednesday May 1, 1996 in San Diego. ... more

Photo: LENNY IGNELZI, Associated Press

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The Arizona Diamondbacks' Matt Williams steps from the dugout for a curtain call following his seventh inning three-run homerun against the New York Yankees in Game 2 of the World Series Sunday, Oct. 28, 2001, at Bank One Ballpark in Phoenix. (AP Photo/Joe Cavaretta) less

The Arizona Diamondbacks' Matt Williams steps from the dugout for a curtain call following his seventh inning three-run homerun against the New York Yankees in Game 2 of the World Series Sunday, Oct. 28, 2001, ... more

Washington Nationals manager Matt Williams (9) pauses in the dugout before a baseball game against the Arizona Diamondbacks at Nationals Park, Monday, Aug. 3, 2015, in Washington. (AP Photo/Alex Brandon)

Washington Nationals manager Matt Williams (9) pauses in the dugout before a baseball game against the Arizona Diamondbacks at Nationals Park, Monday, Aug. 3, 2015, in Washington. (AP Photo/Alex Brandon)

Photo: Alex Brandon, Associated Press

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WASHINGTON, DC - OCTOBER 04: Manager Matt Williams #9 of the Washington Nationals gets edjected by home plate umpire Vic Carapazza after arguing a Asdrubal Cabrera #3 strike call in the tenth inning against Jeremy Affeldt #41 of the San Francisco Giants during Game Two of the National League Division Series at Nationals Park on October 4, 2014 in Washington, DC. (Photo by Rob Carr/Getty Images) less

WASHINGTON, DC - OCTOBER 04: Manager Matt Williams #9 of the Washington Nationals gets edjected by home plate umpire Vic Carapazza after arguing a Asdrubal Cabrera #3 strike call in the tenth inning against ... more

Photo: Rob Carr, Getty Images

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Former Giants star Matt Williams will coach third base for the A’s next season.

Former Giants star Matt Williams will coach third base for the A’s next season.

Photo: Alex Brandon, Associated Press

A’s hire Matt Williams as third-base coach

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Matt Williams, a Gold Glove third baseman and one of the most popular Giants in the ’80s and ’90s, was hired by the A’s to coach third base next season, the team announced Friday.

Williams is reuniting with Oakland manager Bob Melvin, his former Giants teammate.

“I know him about as well as anyone in baseball,” Melvin said. “When we lost Chip (Hale), my first thought was Matty. He’s one of those presence guys. He had a great career, has an incredible work ethic, and it’ll be huge to have him back on the field and working with our young players.”

Hale opened last season as third-base coach, moved to bench coach in June when Mark Kotsay took a leave of absence, and was to return to third base next season — until accepting bench-coach duties with the Nationals.

In Oakland, Williams will be available for promising third baseman Matt Chapman, who made a splash as a rookie with his power and defense, displaying a sound glove, quick hands and mighty arm.

Melvin called Chapman to provide details about the new coach.

“If you’re looking for comps, Matt Chapman and Matt Williams, that’s what (Chapman) is looking toward, to be like Matt Williams,” Melvin said.

Melvin and Williams were Giants teammates in 1987 and 1988, and Williams was the Diamondbacks’ third baseman when they won the 2001 World Series, with Melvin as bench coach.

Melvin managed the Diamondbacks (2005-2009) at a time Williams was part owner of the team.

Williams won four Gold Gloves and was named to five All-Star teams. He managed the Nationals in 2014 and 2015, coached on the Diamondbacks’ staff in 2016 and worked as a pregame and postgame analyst on Giants broadcasts in 2017.

Williams is familiar with the Coliseum. He played a season in the American League with Cleveland and appeared in many Bay Bridge Series exhibitions.

And, of course, his Giants were swept by the A’s in the 1989 World Series.

John Shea is The San Francisco Chronicle’s national baseball writer. Email: jshea@